New Delhi : The ongoing wheat sowing will not be affected due to duty-free import of the grain as the state-run FCI will procure it at MSP and protect farmers’ interest, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak said on Tuesday.
Last week, the government had brought down import duty on wheat to zero from 15 per cent to boost domestic supplies and control rising prices.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the Centre’s nodal agency involved in procurement and distribution of foodgrains, reports PTI.
“The decision (to scrap wheat import duty) has been taken by the government taking into account the entire situation prevailing in the country. It will not impact sowing. It will not affect farmers as wheat is normally purchased by the FCI,” Pattanayak told PTI. The Food Ministry has informed that farmers’ interest will be taken care. “Whatever wheat is available, it will be procured by the FCI,” he said. FCI had procured about 23 million tonnes of wheat in 2015-16 and 28 million tonnes in the previous year, he added. Asked if the Agriculture Ministry had opposed the decision to allow duty-free wheat import, the Secretary said, “I cannot say at my level. Please ask the minister because he is the highest authority who decides. It is not our decision.”
